Judge: Death penalty still possible for man accused in 4-year-old's death

FAYETTE COUNTY, Pa. — A judge rejected a man’s request Thursday to stop prosecutors from seeking the death penalty in the beating death of a 4-year-old boy.

Patrick Haney is accused of killing Trenton St. Clair in September 2011.

Haney’s defense filed a motion arguing that prosecutors failed to present evidence of the aggravating factors at his preliminary hearing.

St. Clair’s mother, Heather Forsythe, is also facing criminal homicide charges.

Forsythe was initially charged with endangering the welfare of a child in her son’s death, but new charges were filed citing the mother’s level of recklessness, police said.

Haney and Forsythe remain in jail.

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